Decorate your Christmas tree in 5 easy steps

Step 1: Setting up the tree

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Image by: Style at Home
By: Eryn Chesney
Source: Donna Griffith

Place your tree in a tree stand on a towel to protect the floor from any spills. If you feel you require extra sturdiness, pile a few bricks or pavers around it. Prune any unruly branches. Give the tree a generous watering and sweep away any needles that have fallen. 7 material must-haves - Evergreen tree - Tree stand - Tree skirt - Lights - Garlands - Ornaments - Tree topper

Step 2: Tree skirt and lights

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Image by: Style at Home
By: Eryn Chesney
Source: Donna Griffith

Arrange a tree skirt or drape a piece of fabric around the base of the Christmas tree, ensuring that the stand is covered. Starting from the top, begin to wrap your lights around the tree, weaving them through the branches for maximum illumination later.

Step 3: Hanging the garlands

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Image by: Style at Home
By: Eryn Chesney
Source: Donna Griffith

Beginning at the top of the tree, weave the garlands through the branches. As you work your way down, slightly increase the amount you use. As a rule, it looks best if thin garland is hung from branch to branch and thick garland is wrapped loosely around the tree.

Step 4: Hanging the ornaments

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Image by: Style at Home
By: Eryn Chesney
Source: Donna Griffith

Hang your favourite ornaments first, showcasing them on the front of the tree. Hang the rest of your Christmas ornaments, starting with the large ones and then filling in the holes with the small ones. Don’t forget to add some closer to the trunk and around the back.

Step 5: Tree topper and gifts

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Image by: Style at Home
By: Eryn Chesney
Source: Donna Griffith

If you like the look of a tree topper, set it on the top, clipping the branch to the appropriate height. Scatter wrapped Christmas gifts on the skirt around the base of the tree and enjoy the beauty of your creation with family and friends.

What everyone needs to know

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Image by: Style at Home
By: Eryn Chesney
Source: Style At Home

Remember this helpful tip when decorating your tree. Our editor-in-chief Erin McLaughlin shows you how to put these steps together in our 5-step Christmas Tree video.